updated 03:55 pm EDT, Wed March 14, 2007

Thanko Vonia Headband

Japan's Thanko today launched a new music headband just for runners. The VONIA is crafted with the iPod shuffle and other very small audio players in mind. A small pocket at the front holds the player and relays its sound through wires hidden inside the headband itself, preventing tangles during a run. The company has chosen to use bone conduction instead of headphones: sound transmits directly through the skull and leaves the ears free to pick up crucial audio cues from the outside world without affecting audio quality. It's also possible to fit a waterproof guard on the bone conduction speakers to take them swimming with the right player, Thanko adds.

The VONIA should be available from the online retailer by the end of March for $84. Exports to the US haven't been confirmed.